AN EDUCATIONAL GAME
What is a game? A game is a structured or semi structured activity usually undertaken for enjoyment. (Wikipedia). This definition is not enough to understand what are the characteristic of the game. The games are varied according to its goal – to my opinion-. If we look at the educational games which I want to focus on we can easily understand from its name only that those games should be responsible for the education of the players It should teach something or confirm what we already learned or knew. If there is not any educational objectives in the elements of the game, it is not an educational one.
The first characteristic of an educational game is that it should have an educational objective which can be teaching of something or confirmation of already known things.
Also, ana educational game should have an enjoyment part as in the other types of game. Without enjoy and fun we can not say that there is a game. Because the nature of the game required fun. If a game is not for fun, I won’t play it.
The other is that the game should have an assessment part . The leader or the teacher should eluate it the students learn or confirm. If not, there can misconceptions or misunderstanding.
The other essential part of an educational game and also all types of game is competition. As a human we always want to win and try to win something so we always try to reach to the end. This end motivates us to go on, doesn’t it. Therefore, the loser of the game “ebe” is an indispensable part. From my childhood, I remember all games of us includes an “ebe”. We always try not to be “ebe”. Also, competition can be made by making groups and letting themcompeting as groups. Making something before someone or more than is also a competition.
According to me, in game there should not be a lot of rules. Also, if there is, they should be enough easy to understand quickly because if the rules are not understood by the participant, the game turns to a chaos. We saw the examples of this situation. However, there are some games that should have rules. If so, these rules should be explained by the leader as clear as possible and as quick as possible..
The last point of a good educational game is the possibility of transformationor development of the game. The game should not be be strict. By adding some parts, the game should be developed.
Those are the elements which an educational game should have according to my opinion. If I want to evaluate one of the game played by groups except us. I decide to talk about Sunshine’s group game which is related to the replacement reaction. Why I choose it? Because I will be a chemistry teacher and it is the only game related to the chemistry J
The educational objective of the game is that the students can answer the question what will be the products of he replacement reaction of these compounds. They used the AgNO3 and KCl compounds as the reactants. They let the students to find out the product of the reaction of these compounds. I think that the objective is reached. However, the game can not be used for teaching only for assessment of the learning of the students. If they design it with this idea, it is ok in terms of having educational objectives and having an assessment how they evaluate whether they learn or not. At the end, the leader saw the products of the given products’ reaction. If those are wrong, the group loses and the teacher can have a possibility to correct this wrong.
What about enjoy? I think there is enough fun. They try to add enjoyment to this game by letting the students close the eyes. Also, I should say watching this game is much more enoyful than playing it.
At this point , I should say this game is the one in which not only the players have enjoy and learn. The students who are sitting and watching is also in the game, not out of game.
Competition is ok for this game, too. Making two groups motivate the students to get in. As I said, making something before someone is an award for us. Also, I should add these types of competition is ok only according to behaviouristic approach and I think behaviouristic approach is not bad as the professors in Educational Faculty say. Competition is a good motivation mean.
What about the rules? Rules are a few and clear to understand. Do not talk and do not open the eyes! Try to find the required atom to make the wanted compound.
This game can be developed for all types of the reactions not only for the replacement reaction since all types of reaction has similar systematic. Some atoms seperate and become together with other one.
In short, this game is a good one according to my criteria of a good educational game. Thank you for efforts of the members of Sunshine Group.